The WildernessSample

3rd day. The pain in the wilderness

Without a doubt there will be pain in the wilderness, there will be disappointments, there will be grief, there will be sorrow and shame, and even an increase in difficult times. The Bible does not hide the fact that we as Christians will have some hard times when we decide to follow Jesus. Paul says in Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake,” which means it is inevitable that we will go through trials in life. But Jesus gave us hope and strength when He said in John 16:33” These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

We always have a choice in life and the choices we make in the wilderness are more important than other choices because the wilderness is what makes us stronger. Have you ever heard the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? It is exactly like that in the wilderness. God will not allow you to be tested beyond what you can bear and the more you persist and persevere in the wilderness the stronger you will become in your faith, character, and your walk with the Lord.

1 Peter 1:6-7 says "In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,". Peter used the analogy of purifying gold through fire to explain to us what happens to us spiritually when we go through trials. When gold is purified or refined through fire the impure elements get exposed and removed from the pure gold. The exposure we face in the wilderness sometimes feels like pain, all the emotions, questions, and doubts that we face are things that have always been inside us, and the wilderness just exposes those things to us. That is why the wilderness is such an awesome tool that God uses to sanctify His children, and to become more Christ-like. Don’t run from the pain and don’t push the impure elements back inside your character again. Confess them before God, ask for His forgiveness, His cleansing, and His healing, and let the wilderness be a time of restoration for you.